Rato monastery Pandemic Relief Initiative 2020 & 2021
Upon the outset of the COVID-19 world-wide pandemic, it became clear that many people’s jobs were closed due to shutdowns and those who still tried to get to work did so at their own peril. The health crisis and the governments attempts to slow the spread of the virus caused many to go without food and water. Rato monastery took it upon themselves to go out to the small villages outside of the Tibetan protected areas and distributed the monastery’s own supply of food and water to anyone in need.
After Venerable Khen Rinpoche Nicholas Vreeland posted photos of Rato monks distributing supplies to his May 2020 edition of his photo - blog - nicholasvreeland.com - friends and supporters started donating towards this relief initiative. These funds have been and will be utilized towards future emergency provisions of medicine, food and even oxygen for the near-by villages and Rato monks.
